ROSEMONT, Illinois — Held Nov. 16–18, 2025 at the prestigious Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, the 2025 Annual Private Label Trade Show made one thing crystal clear: Private label is no longer a secondary retail strategy, it is becoming the strategy.
Hosted by the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), the event brought together thousands of manufacturers, sourcing executives, and retail decision-makers. But beyond the scale of the show floor, what stood out was something deeper — a structural shift in retail power.
A highly curated event
For decades, national brands commanded shelf space and consumer loyalty. Today, retailers are building their own brands not merely as lower-priced alternatives, but as curated product lines with distinct identities. From clean-label snacks and plant-based meals to premium imported specialties, store brands are increasingly positioning themselves as innovative, quality-driven offerings rather than imitations.
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This evolution reflects a broader change in market dynamics. Retailers now control consumer data, pricing strategies, and increasingly direct customer relationships through loyalty programs and digital platforms. With that leverage, they can respond faster to trends and develop private label products that align closely with consumer demand.
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Economic pressures have accelerated the shift. Inflation has pushed value to the forefront, but “value” no longer simply means cheaper, it means dependable quality at a fair price. Private label programs are capitalizing on this recalibrated expectation, steadily narrowing the perceived gap between store brands and legacy national labels.
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For small and mid-sized manufacturers, this presents both opportunity and complexity. Many now operate as strategic partners behind the scenes, producing for retailers’ brands instead of building standalone consumer identities. The key question is no longer whether private label will grow, but how it will reshape the traditional brand hierarchy over the next decade.
PLMA 2025 did more than showcase products. It reflected a retail landscape where brand authority is gradually shifting from manufacturer to retailer — a transformation that may define the future of consumer commerce.
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Featured exhibitors
International Food Srl
Based in Santarcangelo di Romagna and Gatteo, Italy, International Food Srl specializes in organic, plant-based, and vegetable-based beverages and foods. Originally a family-driven venture focused on healthy, natural products, the company has grown into an established supplier serving both domestic and international partners. Its portfolio includes oat, soy, almond, and other plant-based drinks, produced using proprietary processing methods and high-quality raw materials. Sustainability and innovation remain central to its positioning in the expanding plant-based market.
Oregon Seafoods
Headquartered in Coos Bay, Oregon Seafoods focuses on wild Pacific albacore tuna sourced from U.S. West Coast fisheries. Known for hook-and-line (troll-caught) methods, the company emphasizes sustainability and support for Pacific Northwest fishing families. In addition to tuna, it processes salmon, Dungeness crab, and sablefish. Under its Sea Fare Pacific label, Oregon Seafoods offers premium consumer products in BPA-free pouch packaging, while also providing co-packing and private-label services.
Phoenix Bean LLC
Founded in the 1980s and based in Chicago, Phoenix Bean LLC produces fresh, non-GMO soy products including tofu, soymilk, bean sprouts, and ready-to-eat tofu items. Using locally grown Illinois soybeans and traditional small-batch methods, the company supplies grocery chains, restaurants, and foodservice providers across the Midwest. Its products are gluten-free, lactose-free, cholesterol-free, and made without preservatives.
TWE Group GmbH
TWE Group GmbH produces high-performance nonwoven cleaning cloths for household and professional use. Rather than chemical detergents, the company focuses on engineered textile wipes offering absorbency, durability, and customizable surface structures. Its portfolio includes heavy-duty reusable cloths, biodegradable options made from renewable and microplastic-free materials, and specialty variants such as probiotic-treated wipes. Products can be tailored for private-label retail, healthcare, food service, and industrial applications.
On My Way! Foods
On My Way! Foods (OMW Foods) produces squeezable peanut butter and jam pouches designed for mess-free, on-the-go consumption. Shelf-stable and requiring no refrigeration, the products target lunchboxes, travel, camping, and outdoor use. The brand emphasizes simple ingredients, including organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free options, and markets convenience alongside clean-label appeal.
Grupo Cuadritos
Founded in 1961 in Celaya, Guanajuato, Grupo Cuadritos has evolved from a small family cheese producer into a diversified dairy and plant-based beverage manufacturer with international distribution. Its offerings include cheeses, creams, yogurts, milk, ultra-pasteurized dairy products, and plant-based drinks made from soy, almond, oat, rice, and coconut. The company operates modern production facilities and emphasizes food safety, innovation, and community engagement.
Packom International D.O.O.
Based near Belgrade and founded in 2002, Packom International specializes in lozenges, functional candies, and private-label confectionery products infused with vitamins and supplements. Operating under GMP, HACCP, and IFS standards, the company serves markets across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, focusing on sugar-free and better-for-you confectionery solutions.
Reliance Vitamin
Headquartered in Edison, New Jersey, Reliance Vitamin is a dietary supplement contract manufacturer with roots dating back to 1978. The company produces vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, probiotics, collagen, and protein powders for retailers and emerging brands. Operating GMP-compliant facilities, it offers formulation, sourcing, encapsulation, packaging, and regulatory support services.
Nutty Naturals
Based in Paterson, Nutty Naturals is a family-owned supplier of nuts, dried fruits, and specialty snack blends. Serving retailers and foodservice clients nationwide, the company offers roasted and raw nuts, dried fruits, chocolate- and yogurt-coated snacks, and custom trail mixes. In-house roasting and packaging allow flexible private-label programs.
Demalt Group SHPK
Demalt Group SHPK, headquartered in Fier, Albania, produces and distributes household and industrial cleaning tools, including brooms, microfiber towels, and sponges. Founded in its current structure in 2023 with roots dating back to 1993, the company distributes across Albania and is expanding internationally through both traditional channels and its online platform.
Vina FNV Trading and Production JSC
Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vina FNV Trading and Production Joint Stock Company operates under the FnV Foods brand, producing processed agricultural goods such as dried fruits and plant-based snack bars. Focused on better-for-you positioning, the company exports to markets across Asia and Eastern Europe and operates under food safety certifications including HACCP and Halal.
